56001 emerges from the fog at Shrivenham on 28 September 1985 with a train of MGR empties returning to South Wales from Didcot Power Station. Generally by this date most coal for Didcot came from the Midlands, but there was still the odd working from Wales. Just a few years earlier most of the power station's coal came via this route. I have used a shorter lens here than I would normally use at this location, to lessen the impact of the fog. It was just starting to clear and the sun was almost coming out.

56001 passes Langley on 6 November 1986 with the 6V17 10:00 Allington to Stoke Gifford ARC stone empties. Unusually and unfortunately with regard to the encroaching shadows it is running on the down fast line. The first Romanian built 56 had not yet received its Whatley name at this time, but had already lost its original round buffers.

What a combination! Loadhaul liveried 56003 and Network SouthEast liveried 73129 head the 10:20 Toddington to Winchcombe past Hailes, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala on 24 September 2005. With 3,300hp available, 56003 could handle a train of twice this length and still have power to spare, but as it is air brake only and the stock is vacuum braked, the Class 73 is acting purely as a brake translator.

56003 & 37324 catch a little weak sunlight as they pass Didbrook with the 14:40 Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala on 24 September 2005. By the late afternoon clouds had started to roll in from the south signaling an end to the day's photography, after a gloriously sunny day. Salter's Hill can be seen dominating the background.

Romanian built 56007 passes Cargo Fleet with a train of imported coal from Redcar on 22 September 1997. Note the replacement rectangular buffers.  This loco was subsequently exported to France to work on the construction of the LGV Est européenne high speed line. There are a surprising number of good photographic locations along the Middlesbrough to Redcar line, all with heavy industrial buildings in view, as here.

With a haze of blue smoke from the exhaust, and worryingly from the rear bogie, 56010 passes Wendlebury on the Bicester to Oxford line with the 6M43 14:08 Bicester Army Depot to Lawley Street coal empties on 27 November 1993. This was a regular Saturday diagram during the winter months bringing a variety of traction to the line. Unfortunately the timing of the train meant that the loaded train was severely backlit when going up to Bicester and then usually when I was around either the sun disappeared (as here) or else the loco came back light engine!

1998 witnessed many unusual locos working Virgin Cross Country services at the time when the company was desperately short of motive power. One of the most outrageous occurred on 20 June when 56019 worked down to Bournemouth in lieu of the normal Class 47. The sole surviving red-stripe Railfreight liveried Class 56 catches the very last rays of the setting sun as it approaches Culham returning north with the 1M81 18:14 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly, which it worked as far as Birmingham New Street. 

On 7 April 1990, 56031 Merehead approaches Oxford with the 6V11 10:03 Wolverton to Tytherington ARC stone empties, unusually running on a Saturday. The train has just come down the former LMS line from Bicester, and Class 122 departmental 'bubble car' 975042 can just be seen in the background standing in the down loop, waiting to gain access to the single line that the 56 has just vacated.

56032 approaches Drem with the 6B44 11:15 Oxwellmains to Powderhall Binliner empties on 4 October 2001. The East Coast Mainline to the east of Edinburgh is not blessed with many good photographic locations, but this one has less lineside clutter than most. Typically the sun disappeared just before the train came into view, but as this is the only time I have got a picture of a Class 56 on this train and I am certainly not going to get another chance, it will have to do!

56033 passes Corsham on 30 April 1993 with the 4C13 11:21 Calvert to Bristol binliner empties. The viewpoint had recently been opened up somewhat by the removal of trees and bushes near to the track. This train has seen a considerable variety of traction over the years, starting off with 47s, then changing to 56s, 60s, 37s, 58s, and then the inevitable 66s.

56037 Richard Trevithick just finds a patch of sun, but unfortunately with typical railway photographer's luck, the rest of the picture is in cloud. The location is Hungerford Common, and 56037 is working the 6A18 05:00 Robeston to Theale oil train on 3 September 1984. At this point the railway parallels the Kennett and Avon Canal, which can just be seen above the loco.

A picture that is totally impossible to recreate now. 56038 passes the site of Knighton Crossing (between Didcot and Swindon) with a Didcot Power Station to Newport Docks empty MGR coal train on 26 January 1980. A visitor to this spot today would not recognise it, as it is totally grown up, and it is no longer possible to take pictures from the cut off road to the old crossing. The fairly recent underbridge that replaced the crossing can just be seen in this view, with the line of the new road marked by the recently planted trees on the left. Although empty coal trains from Didcot once again use this route (now to Avonmouth), neither Class 56s or HAA wagons will be seen on these trains.

Not much work for the driver of 56038 Pathfinder Tours 1973 - 2003 as it brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z42 13:50 Margam to Crewe 'Valley Vostock' railtour on 7 February 2004, so he is reading the paper as the tour heads back through Ninian Park station. 60021 was on the front of the train.

56039 speeds through Grateley with the 6O89 06:45 Whatley to Woking ARC stone train on 14 November 1991. A very pleasant autumn day was spent at this location with a variety of trains and motive power that can only be dreamed off in today's highly standardised and predictable railway. Also unlike today there were no other photographers, despite the bright weather and the prospect of plenty of classic traction!

56046 passes Stockton Cut Junction with the 6G40 10:00 Hartlepool to Immingham gas pipe train on 22 July 1996. This was a short term contract that operated during the summer of 1996. Stockton Cut Junction is where the lines from Hartlepool and Middlesbrough converge, and is ideally situated for a photo from the A66 bridge - if you can put up with the traffic!

On 15 November 1999, after a completely cloudy day, the sun finally broke through in the late afternoon producing the dramatic lighting seen here. 56048 is ready to leave North Blyth with the 6G69 15:00 North Blyth to Lynemouth alumina tanks. The setting sun glints on the alumina storage tanks, while the blades of one of the newly erected wind turbines can just be seen above the first wagon. The Honda that does all the wandering is parked on the right! Unbelievably I was the only photographer to witness this superb lighting that did actually persist long enough for another picture further down the branch.

56050 pulls away from a signal check at South Moreton on 16 November 1988 whilst working the 6V17 10:00 Allington to Stoke Gifford ARC stone empties. The overgrown area behind the train is the site of Moreton Sidings, laid during the Second World War to cope with the increases in freight traffic in the Didcot area.

56054 British Steel Llanwern runs alongside the Stainforth & Keadby Canal at Crowle with the 6D99 07:20 Hull Saltend to Immingham wagon transfer working on 31 May 1997. This Saturdays only working was used to move wagons between the two locations, but was always very lightly loaded, often with just one wagon, as here. Usually either a Class 37 or 56, either class was just a little bit overpowered for such a load!

56062 is pictured at Melton Ross on 26 July 2003 with the 7C77 13:35 Immingham to Scunthorpe imported coal, passing 66601 which is heading the 6E55 10:03 Kingsbury to Humber empty oil tanks. Surprisingly given the amount of freight traffic on the line, and the then possibility of some Class 56 hauled trains, there is nobody on the popular footbridge at New Barnetby visible in the background.

31 March 2004 was a sad day for Class 56 fans, with the final railtour marking the class's withdrawal from traffic on the national network. 56078 Doncaster Enterprise heads through typical Pennine scenery at Walsden with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z57 'Twilight Grids' railtour, running an amazing 50 minutes early. This caused consternation among the photographers on the hillside, as the sun had only just got round far enough to illuminate the side of the train, although this was better than some photographers who missed this section of the tour completely because of the unexpected early running!

Very difficult lighting conditions at Parkside Junction (near Newton-le-Willows) on 23 May 1993, with the sun right behind the train. Consecutively numbered 56084 & 56085 round the short and sharply curved freight only chord between Lowton Junction and Parkside Junction with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z46 17:05 Preston to Crewe 'Lancastrian Mini Excursion'. The line in the foreground is the Liverpool to Manchester line, famously the first passenger carrying railway to open in 1830.

At the time, an everyday occurrence, now a part of history. On 25 October 1995, 56088 curves off the Eggborough power station line at Whitley Bridge Junction, with MGR empties bound for nearby Gascoigne Wood opencast mine. The main line here is in fact virtually a freight only line, with numerous coal trains to Drax power station being the main traffic, and only a very infrequent Knottingley to Goole passenger service.

Pairs of Class 56s working freights were certainly not common and were usually the result of a failure, as is probably the case here. 56095 Harworth Colliery makes a smoky departure from Milford Sidings with 56091 Castle Donnington Power Station on 25 October 1995. Milford Junction (Monk Fryston) is a popular spot to photograph coal trains heading for nearby Eggborough and Drax power stations, although apart from unusual events like this it can get a bit monotonous!

During the early 1990s a pair of relief lines were reinstated between Wantage Road and Challow on the Great Western Main Line, principally to cater for the then new Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station coal trains. On 21 February 1993, 56105 & 56054 are pictured standing on the recently laid down relief near Grove with a Redland stone train after ballasting operations further up the line. At this time the up relief line had not yet been laid. The driver told me that the train would stay in this position until 21:00, when the whole ensemble was due to be hauled back to Didcot by a Class 37.

The final rays of a weak winter sun illuminate 56105 as it applies full power at Elsham with the 7G08 15:12 Immingham to Scunthorpe MGR on 11 March 1997. The old wheel operated gates seen here were replaced with lifting barriers in 2003. The old platform at Elsham was an ideal location to get westbound trains perfectly framed with the crossing and box, and with a splendid bracket signal in view as well.

56108 passes Llangewydd (between Bridgend and Port Talbot) with the 6B69 Llanwern to Port Talbot coal empties on 15 April 1991. By this date sectorisation had taken hold and many locos were appearing in the new triple grey sector liveries, but there was still plenty of variety with original Railfreight, and as here, the later Red Stripe Railfreight livery on my many locos. Note the milepost on the left indicating 193¼ miles from Paddington.

56114 Maltby Colliery stands amid the recently completed Avonmouth Bulk Handling Terminal during gauging trials on 25 June 1993. Along with 60077 (which can just be glimpsed through the bunker in the background) and 37887, it was used with rakes of HEA wagons for checking clearances through the new structure, prior to services of imported coal starting to Didcot Power Station. This saw a switch of supply for Didcot from home produced coal from the Midlands to imported coal from around the world, supposedly as a 'greener' alternative due to its lower sulphur content. Although, of course the pollution caused by transporting it halfway round the world was ignored!

70 minutes early was translated into 50 minutes late by the time the Pathfinder Tours 1Z58 17:43 York to Bristol Temple Meads 'Twilight Grids' railtour departed York on 31 March 2004, due to 56078 & 56115 not talking to each other. The multiple working problem was resolved by running the locos around, so it was 56115 Barry Needham that was leading classmate 56078 as the train hammered through Church Fenton in failing light.

56110 passes Allandale (between Polmont and Cumbernauld) with the 6D16 14:00 Grangemouth to Motherwell fuel oil tanks on 23 July 1999. This was a Fridays only working and nominally booked for a Class 60. Despite the gloomy weather, I was certainly pleased to see a Loadhaul Class 56 rather than a 60, although of course ten years later I would be pleased to see a Class 60 rather than a 66!

56118 crosses the swing bridge over the River Ouse at Goole with the 6D54 14:36 Hull to Doncaster Enterprise on 24 May 2001. This bridge was severely damaged in 1973 when a barge collided with it, and there was a possibility of this section of line being closed permanently as a result. Happily this was not the case. It is still opened occasionally for river traffic, which I can vouch for personally, as a train I was on returning from Hull one evening was held up for a considerable time when the bridge was swung open to allow a ship to pass.

Loadhaul liveried 56118 & 56107 race past Eckington (between Abbotswood Junction and Cheltenham) with the Worksop Open Day Committee's 1Z56 05:40 Worksop to Paignton 'Worksop Riviera' railtour on 2 August 2003. The tour was running half an hour late at this point, as a TPWS fault on 56107 necessitated the loco being run round prior to departure. However, some smart running saw most of the tome made up, the arrival at Paignton being just 2 minutes late.

56119 approaches Onibury with the 6M29 11:38 Llanwern to Dee Marsh steel coils on 20 August 1995. This was one of two northbound steel trains that ran over the Welsh Marches line on Sundays during the 1990s, the other being the 6M30 10:56 Margam to Dee Marsh, which would have passed this spot approximately two hours later, usually with Class 60 haulage. Very little walking is required to get to this spot as the Onibury to Bromfield road is only just over the hedge on the left, running parallel with the railway.

56123 Drax Power Station pulls its train of HAA coal wagons slowly through the MGR unloading bunker at Cockenzie Power Station on 23 July 1996. The train had originated at the Blindwells opencast mine just a few miles away. This picture was taken with full permission of Scottish Power, as this is definitely not a publicly accessible spot. It is difficult to appreciate from this picture, but this dead end line is situated on a high embankment, and the ground dropped away sharply right behind where I stood! The power station is located near the Firth of Forth, some distance away from the unloading bunker. This brief burst of sunshine was the one during the day.

In a bizarre coincidence on 23 July 1997, I saw 56123 Drax Power Station exactly one year to the day since I had last seen it in Scotland on MGR duties. Here it seen approaching Drongan on the freight only Killoch Washery to Annanbank Junction line with the 7R83 13:20 Killoch to Ayr Falkand Yard coal.

56125 passes Standish Junction with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z40 06:40 Manchester Piccadilly to Plymouth 'Plym-Exe Cursioner' railtour on 1 May 1994. This was run in connection with the Exeter Rail Fair. The 56 was replaced by 59004 at Westbury. The track layout at Standish Junction has been slightly altered since this photo was taken. The diamond crossing under the first coach has been replaced by a pair of points.

56133 Crewe Locomotive Works propels a couple of steel wagons back towards Goole station from the dock area on 7 February 1998, running as the 6J50 11:34 Goole Docks to Rotherham. Although by this time a Class 08 shunter had been deployed at Goole in view of the upturn in traffic, previously the train loco (usually a Class 56) traveled the entire length of the dock lines, involving considerably sharper curves than the one 56133 is pictured on here.

After only two years away from the national rail network, the Class 56 renaissance has begun. Private operator Fastline has reinstated three machines, with possibly more to follow. Initially they will operate a Doncaster to Thamesport freight service. On 17 April 2006, 56302 (the former 56124) passes Old Denaby with a Doncaster Belmont Yard to Barrow Hill test train.

56302 passes Watford (on the Northampton loop line) with the 4O90 11:01 Doncaster to Grain Intermodal on 21 September 2006. After a perfectly sunny day, the clouds were now rolling in from the west, but although now a little weak, the sun obligingly stayed out for this train and the following 6A42 Enterprise, and then just disappeared! It had been a very warm day, despite the wind, which became stronger during the day. This presented a few problems here, as clumps of leaves were being blown off the ash trees behind me, and falling across this view. In fact a particularly large clump almost obscured the front of the 56, just dropping out of the frame as I pressed the shutter!

The first railtour utilising a Class 56 since the farewell tour of March 2004. 56302 runs parallel with the Stainforth & Keadby Canal at Crowle with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z56 14:29 Doncaster to Crewe 'Grid Arising' railtour on 30 September 2006. Unfortunately, despite some early brightness,  the sun had disappeared by the time the train came.

56302 rounds the curve at Immingham East Junction with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z56 14:29 Doncaster to Crewe 'Grid Arising' railtour on 30 September 2006. A tricky spot for photography, as a decision has to be made whether to chop the rear of the train off, or go for the full panoramic view. I decided to use a moderate wide angle to include the whole train (or at least all that was visible as it emerged from the bushes).

56302 emerges from Kirton Lindsey Tunnel with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z56 14:29 Doncaster to Crewe 'Grid Arising' railtour on 30 September 2006. A decision was taken to wander down from the station to this spot as the sun had gone in, and shadows would no longer be a problem. You can guess what happened when the 56 was due - the sun came out! Luckily when it actually appeared out if the tunnel, the difference wasn't too marked, as the sun had found some more high cloud.